Shoot the Wall (A.K.A. The Rant Thread)

[Pseudonym]

Why would any company have something along the lines of 'we make shitty furniture that doesn't last' in their mission statement? That seems like a terrible policy.

[Carol the Dabbler]

They didn't word it *quite* that way.

That's basically what it boiled down to, though.

[Arcadia]

I forgot to say … although I didn't buy much Ikea furniture, I loved their marketplace and bought all kinds of stuff there, including rugs. I agree that the price of throw rugs has gotten ridiculous. I use one in my art studio because it's too cold in there in the winter with just the cement floor, so a cheap, disposable rug made sense. I used to pay about $20-25 for a room sized rug at Ikea, and just got a new one every few years when the paint stains became too hideous. But this last time the cheapest one I could find was about $70 from Home Depot. The Ikea ones were smaller and more expensive. Arghh. So when this new one finally has to go, I may have to rethink my strategy.  

[Van Buren Supernova]

On 8/1/2018 at 11:27 AM, Arcadia said:

The Ikea ones were smaller and more expensive. Arghh. So when this new one finally has to go, I may have to rethink my strategy.  

What about repurposing old T shirts, or, OR, repurpose old cats! Well, that sounds mean, but you don't need to step on them, just between them would be warm enough.

I have quite a number of IKEA furnitures. Some of them tend to be more affordable, and I also like the simplistic style. Back then I moved with only a bowl, spoon and fork in my name and had to slowly furnish my flat. The durability of the furnitures... it depends. 

Let's see, I have a sofa bed, that one is quite crappy. The frames were not durable enough now that it feels like our butts are touching the floor when we sit on that. It is still sit-able (?) but it has to be done nicely (read: not my way of sitting). It's over ten years so I guess it's considered durable for its price and span.

A plastic 'office' chair. That was our way of cutting cost, the body part of the chair is changeable, thanks for that. Because I believe we broke at least 6 over ten plus year (we have two chairs) and everytime we only need to buy that body part. It's not comfortable for long period sitting though.

Drawer, I have one or two falling apart, but there is a sturdy one made from metal and that one lasts forever.

Shelves, working fine so far.

Computer table. All the things I mentioned about was mostly on the lower range. This computer table is so called medium range as it's made of sturdy wood and steel adjustable legs. We have two of these and they lasts forever too.

Wall cabinet that is convertible to small working table. This one is nice, and durable enough. It folds nicely and compact enough to the wall. It's quite pricey but very functional.

All in all I would say, they are still good for money and it's still enjoyable to go there (if I don't get lost &*&*@#*%#, anyway, I read that they make us 'lost' on purpose), and yes

On 8/1/2018 at 11:27 AM, Arcadia said:

I loved their marketplace

Me too! I love the plant area, and nitty gritty area although it is dangerous, because I tend to want to buy something. I even like the kitchen and kid area (if there are not many kids around).

And oh, I like their hot dog as well.

[Carol the Dabbler]

@Arcadia -- would a painter's canvas drop-cloth (assuming they still make that kind) serve your purpose?  Or do you need something thicker?

How about a thick rug for insulation, with a drop cloth over it to catch the paint drips?  Then when you have an open house or something, you could roll up the drop-cloth and have a nice clean rug.

[Pseudonym]

Swedish meatballs are the 'go to' IKEA food here - not for me since I don't eat meatballs, but it's definitely the main IKEA meal. And bags of mini-dime bars that just make me  

And yep, I just realised the marketplace is the bit I meant I like (but find lethal) - when Arcadia mentioned it I got confused, I was thinking like the ASOS marketplace where it's second hand stuff. The units I'm eyeing up to go under my desk are steel so pretty sure they'll be indestructible. I got a cheap sofa when I moved into my house, and that lasted forever but was really uncomfortable - my own fault, I should have splashed out on a more expensive one from the get go... I ended up having to chop it up and take it to the dump (my puppy had chewed on the corner so no one would have wanted to buy it second hand). 

[Arcadia]

4 hours ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

@Arcadia -- would a painter's canvas drop-cloth (assuming they still make that kind) serve your purpose?  Or do you need something thicker?

How about a thick rug for insulation, with a drop cloth over it to catch the paint drips?  Then when you have an open house or something, you could roll up the drop-cloth and have a nice clean rug.

Not a bad idea, but a drop cloth's too thin, for a couple of reasons … not enough warmth, and it would be rucked up all the time, making it easy to trip on, things like that. I have classes in there too, need it to be safe for the students.

I used to have solution #2 … sort of. (It was a rug on top of a carpet.) That might've work if I only used acrylic or oil, but I'm primarily a watercolorist …. eventually the water based stains worked their way through. A hard plastic covering might work, if I could find one big enough, and if it doesn't break under the weight of the furniture … don't know. I suspect it would cost as much or more than the rug, though.

One solution I didn't think of until this moment … I could have looked on eBay.

[Pseudonym]

I got my giant rug in the kitchen from a shop on eBay. Oh no, actually, I found the shop on eBay, and then looked on their own website because without the eBay fees it was actually cheaper. 

[Pseudonym]

I'm still waiting for my promised phone call, I need answers damn it, until I know what's what everything is up in the air. Fingers crossed it'll be today. 

[Pseudonym]

Just got off the phone with the uni advisers (the call I was waiting for), phew scary stuff, over half an hour of talking figures and qualification levels, seeming very real now! 

[Carol the Dabbler]

7 hours ago, Arcadia said:

I'm primarily a watercolorist

Well then, something washable? Maybe several small rugs that would fit into your washer -- or a few somewhat larger rugs that would fit into one of those huge washers at the laundromat?

Or a big rug with small rugs strategically positioned in the primary drip zones?

[Pseudonym]

Couldn't you wash it in the bath? Just leave it soak with detergent. I'm a watercolourist too but I've never had issues with watercolour staining anything too badly. 

[Arcadia]

You must not use as much pthalo blue as I do.  

Several rugs might work, if/when I get to that point that may be the route I take. Although who knows where I'll be living by then, I might not even have a studio any more.

[Carol the Dabbler]

53 minutes ago, Arcadia said:

You must not use as much pthalo blue as I do.

Get a blue rug?  (Preferably mottled in several shades of blue.)

[Pseudonym]

It really irritates me when people give negative unsolicited opinions about lifestyle choices such as way of eating.There is nothing as personal as what you choose to eat or the way you choose to live, especially when you've done a lot of research into it and made an informed decision. I was feeling quite pleased and accomplished and now I'm just annoyed. I won't go into details, since that would be inviting opinions, but why can't people just butt out?

[Carol the Dabbler]

I had a similar experience a few years ago, when I happened to be sitting across from a certain high school classmate at an alumni event.  I never used to know why I didn't particularly care for her. Now I do.

She didn't give me advice, though. She actually had the gall to ridicule what I was eating.  Ha-ha, big joke!  

 

[Pseudonym]

That's just ridiculous! It's none of her business!

There's someone in my year trying to put together a school reunion, no way in hell I'm going, but I did have an amusing few hours on Monday where my friend dug up Facebook photos of people we were in school with and I had to guess who they were... followed by a bit of bitchiness about those who haven't aged well. I usually try to subdue my inner bitch in real life, but my friend has no such qualms, besides it's not like we were friends with any of these people. We did come across one of my enemies and I was surprised by the rush of hatred I felt even 16 years on. 

It's weird when something reminds you of emotions that were so potent in your history but time has blunted. When I was a teenager I felt desperate to get away from everything, I felt like I was completely trapped. A while back I had quite a bad argument with my mother whilst I was staying with them in a camper van hundreds of miles from home, and suddenly I had that exact same feeling of being completely trapped - that I was desperate to get away but there was absolutely nowhere I could go, felt exactly like being a teenager again, it was a bit scary. I'm so used to being independent now and doing what I want when I want I'd completely forgotten how bad it could feel being stuck somewhere. 

 

Got an answer on my other forum.

'I didn't mean to upset you...'

*sigh* And now I feel guilty for being a bit militant in my response. 

[Arcadia]

Maybe you should tell the other person that? Just to make yourself feel better.

I think some people are just born busybodies. Some are just born jerks. And some people think they are (and may actually be) showing concern or interest when they "critique" something you do. E.g., I receive endless advice from two or three people on all the "natural" products I should be using instead of the products I do use. I know they mean well, but no, I am not going to pay five times as much for a skin lotion  when I'm already perfectly happy with the way my current lotion works. And when it comes to medical care, sorry, but I believe my highly-trained and experienced doctor knows more about my body than these virtual strangers do. I'm happy for them that these products seem to work for them, but unless I'm specifically asking for recommendations, I'm not particularly interested. Plus I'm always put off by the evangelical fervor with which these recommendations are submitted, and wow, this turned into much more of a rant than I intended it to!  

Err... my intended point was, I find it easiest (i.e., least stressful for me) to just assume these people mean well, and change the subject asap. They usually get the message that I'm not a willing convert, at least for that little while.

[Pseudonym]

I didn't say I feel guilty but I said it was fine that I understood they were concerned. 

Yes, anything that people evangelise is usually unwelcome. 

[Fantasy Lover]

You know what's the worst thing people criticise? Parenting. I'm not a mother but the things I hear from other moms *shudder*, it sounds like everything you do is bad. If you decide to go to work some time after your child is born you're selfish and lazy, but if decide to stay at home people constantly ask favours because they think you have all the time in the world. If you decide to bottle feed your child you're lazy, but if you decide to breastfeed you need to cover up. Whatever happened to live and let live?

 

 

[Pseudonym]

I appear to be growing a second head on my right nostril. Not amused. 

[Pseudonym]

Eurgh, just spent hours trying to sort things out over the phone, first with the uni then with student finance, ended up getting really confused and really annoyed.

Uni: "Oh we have no record of you registering..." oh really, so why do an email and a confirmation number?

Finance: "Oh you already have an account with us..." FROM TEN YEARS AGO! I don't know the login details!!

[T.o.b.y]

On 8/3/2018 at 7:12 PM, Fantasy Lover said:

You know what's the worst thing people criticise? Parenting. I'm not a mother but the things I hear from other moms *shudder*, it sounds like everything you do is bad. If you decide to go to work some time after your child is born you're selfish and lazy, but if decide to stay at home people constantly ask favours because they think you have all the time in the world. If you decide to bottle feed your child you're lazy, but if you decide to breastfeed you need to cover up. Whatever happened to live and let live?

 

 

Yes, there is something about motherhood that seems to spark public interest and invite a ton of unsolicited opinions. And it is specifically motherhood, I just read an article the other day that mentioned studies which had shown that fathers who are out wit their kids are more likely to be left alone and face less scrutiny. 

...And yet another reason why becoming a parent should always be a free choice. 

[Pseudonym]

I discovered this morning I have a wasp hive in my roof. *sigh* Yet more money out that when things are tight. 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Are they bothering you?  Dunno about your wasps, but most of ours are perfectly amiable unless you get too close to their nest.  (The main exception is a species known as yellow jacket -- they shoot on sight.)

I tend to leave the "nice" wasp nests alone, because wasps eat a lot of grubs (baby beetles) of plant-eating species.